Heroism and heartbreak are several of the most prevalent themes in life, especially for a New Yorker. Let’s face it, if you have lived in any of the 5-boros during the last dozen or so years, then you have seen heroes and heartbreakers among you — they may have tugged on your heartstrings or even played music (cue Sarah McLachlan song.) Whether you survived Sandy or the Bush Administration, or even the ‘Sex and the City’ series finale, one way or another these events have affected and shaped the personality you have today. Nowadays, you can #breakup via a tweet or text without remorse, would probably never ever be caught dead in a scrunchie, and are almost always prepared the day before a nor’easter or designer sample sale strikes. Oh the New Yorker lifestyle!

However, New York can be a pretty lonely place even though we are surrounded by millions of people daily (the subway during rush hour, the line at Whole Foods, the Wicked lottery, etc.,) and although technology has produced a profusion of positives, it has carved grand canyons between human-to-human interaction and made all of us some sort of Kardashian — some people think a community is a thing you join on Facebook. Long gone are those days when you had to ride your Huffy or take the subway to tell your friend about Joey leaving Dawson for Pacey. Why the need to put on your shoes when you can just update a social media status? More and more I find that we pass the time Ecommerce shopping or binge watching Felicity on Hulu, and less and less are activities that involve people. And yes, I am guilty as a Winona Ryder!

I needed to get out of the 10019 bubble and not fuggedabout the love I have for New York, so I went on my quintessential Manhattan stroll that starts on Hudson and Bleecker and moves down to MacDougal where I detour until I find my way into Washington Square Park. Although I love fashion, I am not a big fan of the SoHo-fication of Bleecker St. I admit I fueled that flame by often patronizing Marc Jacobs (that day I needed a new iPhone cover.) Aside from MJ, I frequented my usual pit-stops like Magnolia (no line!!!) and The Cornelia Street Cafe. I dodged traffic and queues leading into pizzerias by meandering onto quiet blocks that transitioned into busy streets populated by Spa Belles and tattoo parlors. I ended up at a familiar place — the front door of The Joffrey School of Ballet. So, I asked the question: “are we Human, or are we Dancer?”

Cover of Carine Roitfeld’s CR Magazine Issue 2

I remember having to climb “up the steep and very narrow stairway”just to reach that dark and dingy changing room — it was nothing like Center Stage. This was my second act of heroism with the first being the big move to the Big Apple. The Joffrey School of Ballet in the Village was definitely “Dance Ten, Looks Three” in regards to facility, but the instructors were classical technicians who taught you the movement and vocabulary to chasséandgrand jetéyour way onstage. It also takes a heroic determination and moments of heartbreak to be successful in the art of ballet. In the foreword of Carine Roitfelds’s 2nd issue of CR magazine dedicated to dance, she writes: “Ballet is hard work, and it is one of the last art forms that is done with pure motives — ballet stars rarely sign huge endorsement deals or become world famous. More likely they are real people giving themselves fully to one passion…Because ballet is an art form that breaks the body and the soul.” At some point, you make the difficult decision of continuing the dance or choosing a new partner. I love and adore the ballet, but in a way, it was my Noel Crane. Fashion is my Ben Covington.

I would like to dedicate this post to Ballet (Noel,) because time and time again it has beautifully danced a pas de deux with Fashion (Ben,) and I am very Felicity Porter. The collaborations between Christian Lacroix and the Paris Opera Ballet and the recent assemblé of Valentino and the New York City Ballet are examples of the synergistic rapport between the two artistic mediums. Both worlds do not exist without the body. The dance is an expression erupting from within, and the cloth enhances the narrative by adding layers to the character.

Photo: Brad Walsh — Christian Siriano’s SS13 Campaign

Recently, ballet has been influencing fashion offstage, and I don’t mean wearing your Capezio tights as meggings. Project Runway’s fourth season winner Christian Siriano’s SS13 collection is directly inspired by ABT’s (American Ballet Theatre) The Dream. It is his version of an “off-duty ballerina” and girl be “fierce!” And although deprived of silk chiffon, colorful tulle and layers of organza, Nicolas Ghesquiere’s final SS13 collection at Balenciaga was influenced by dance if not specifically ballet. Many of the looks in his collection included midriffs and leotard inspired tops. I am sure some fashion forward girls will be wearing these to an Ailey Extension class. However, the most apparent union is the ballerina flat. From Chanel to Chloé, almost every major labelhas made it a staple.

As in Swan Lake or Giselle, the ballerina is the embodiment of heroism and heartbreak in one. (S)he is the epitome of grace under painful pressure, and rigorously works to give you an effortless performance only for the bravos and the bravas onstage at the Metropolitan or at a performing arts center in Omaha. That’s the benefit of being a New Yorker, incredible dancers are your friends and neighbors, and watching an inspiring performance at Lincoln Center or at the Joyce is a chassé or subway ride away; you really don’t have to YouTube it. Get away from a Kardashian or a Real Housewife and force yourself to be among the humans. So are dancers human? Maybe, but they’re definitely heroes among us. And yes, “everything was beautiful at the ballet.”

ABT Principal David Hallberg shot by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue’s April 2013 Issue

Pick the perfect flat to plié in. A Nude Ballerina will help elongate your legs and create a clean line.

“A relationship is like couture — if it doesn’t fit properly, it’s a disaster.”

Since ‘Homeland’ has been on hiatus, I have to admit I am suffering from Carrie Withdrawal. Who would have thought that a mental illness could be so chic? My so-called Mathison life compares to the same feeling I had with the realization that ‘Sex and the City’ was truly over. I find it strange how a Carrie can have such an affect on your psyche. In that event, as I impatiently wait for Season 3 of ‘Homeland’ to start, I might as well binge on ‘Sex and the City’ reruns on Hulu. I have always enjoyed the straightforward approach of the dialogue, especially when it’s in the context of fashion. I honestly believe that SJP brought Manolos into mainstream vocabulary. So, in an ode to Carrie, here are a handful of my favorite fashionista-esque quotes that I like to call Sh*t Carrie Says and my Charmin-fresh commentary.

Carrie: When I first moved to New York I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I just felt it fed me more.

Me: When I first moved to New York, I took advantage of the Grey’s Papaya Recession special and read leftover Marie Claires and Cosmopolitans at the laundromat.

Carrie: I’m thinking balls are to men what purses are to women. It’s just a little bag, but we feel naked in public without it.

Me: It’s not just a little bag; it’s more like a Louis Vuitton limited-edition luggage set. Set being the operative word.

Carrie: Men I may not know, but shoes, shoes I know.

Me: No comment.

Carrie: You can’t be friends with a squirrel! A squirrel is just a rat in a cuter outfit.

Me: Little furry things are not cute in any urban landscape even if it is wearing a little Burberry scarf.

Carrie: Shopping is my cardio.

Me: Crossing a busy avenue when the counter is down to 3 forces me into a sweat.

Carrie: I fell. I fell in Dior.

Me: Poor thing, I never experienced that. But I totally wiped out right in front of everyone sitting inside Five Napkin Burger when the streets were so icy last year.

Carrie: I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet!

Me: My wallet is bulimic.

Carrie: I have this little substance abuse problem…expensive footwear.

Me: I have several: Sephora VIB gifts, watching every Broadway show available on TDF, and Topman T-shirts.

Carrie: The odds of bumping into the one who broke your heart are incredibly high. The odds of bumping into him when you look like sh*t are even higher.

Me: That is some deep sh*t Carrie. TTYL!

And last but certainly not least, some memorable phrases from her BFFs…..

Charlotte: My marriage is a fake Fendi!

Miranda: You can take me out of Manhattan but you can’t take me out of my shoes.

Stanford: Oh, my God, she’s fashion roadkill!

Samantha: Hi, I need something that’ll make a guy cum in his pants as soon as he sees me.

So, if you have some Sh*t Carrie Says that I may have overlooked, then please share them in the comments.

Color often provides us answers to questions even before they are asked. Gold at a track event translates into a first place win, baby pink in the hospital means “it’s a girl,” and robin egg blue at a wedding suggests that the Mr. and new Mrs. are receiving a gift from Tiffany’s. But in Roman Catholicism, color does not only function on symbolism, it also paints a hierarchical picture — priests don black and bishops are cloaked in violet while cardinals (essentially bishops with additional privileges,) are swaddled in that iconic red hue. However, the most potent color emerging from that rainbow is colorless, or rather white, and this is limited to the Pope.

In physics, white is not considered a color; it is defined as a combination of all colors of the visible light spectrum. I believe it is quite metaphorical when interpreting religious symbolism thru a scientific fact. The Pope has multiple titles such as the Bishop of Rome, Parish Priest of la Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, and before being exalted the Supreme Pontiff, he was an appointed cardinal. Therefore, the Pope is a metaphor for all the religious hues represented in the church — he is the so-called light of the church.

In celebration of yesterday’s white smoke and the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the newly crowned Pope, I think it is time for fashion heresy, since the dogmas already established are infallible. White has proven to be one of the biggest trends of the season, and it is a breath of fresh air in an industry that has been dominated by color, patterns, prints, and embellishments (leave that to the cathedrals.) White is pure and holy. It is a First Communion or a Virgin (?) Bride. It is the colorless color perfect for the Successor of St. Peter.

Photos: Swide.com – Dolce & Gabbana FW 2013-14 Accessories

Pope Francis, like St. Francis of Assisi, is a simple man, so he would be an ideal muse for either Maison Martin Margiela’s or Rick Owens’ SS 2013 collections. The former created a cassock-like liturgical gown perfect for a pope while the latter could offer him a blouson that would give him the illusion of a much needed waist. But these would be off-duty looks in comparison to his priestly vestments. During liturgy, Pope Francis could adorn Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection. Karl Lagerfeld has created a silhouette resembling a mantum, a pope’s long cloak, which would give him an imperial air. However, I think he would be more comfortable in the vintage Balenciaga Butterfly Evening Coat circa 1968 since it reflects his muy simple personality. A papal makeover would be incomplete without ornate regalia, and Dolce & Gabbana’s FW 2013-14 collection could accessorize the look with a golden crown and pectoral staff.

Photos: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.Com / Syle.com — Givenchy SS13

If I were to go all Rachel Zoe on the pope, I would definitely put him in Givenchy SS13 and bring him into the current century. There is something about religious icons printed on ethereal fabrics that would definitely give him some street cred. Besides, I was hoping that Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of Givenchy, would be the next pope. But with the recent revelation that Pope Benedict XVI’s loafers were not made by Prada, I am not surprised. So, I would like to wish some words of wisdom from The Little Prince to the Prince of the Apostles: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

In an era in which communication rests in the hands of social media, and words and sentences are cut short to a “how r u,” an “omfg,” or even a “#lifeisgood,” nothing makes a statement louder than fashion. “In other words” might be the best way to describe the Fall/Winter 2013-14 collection at Lanvin. Alber Elbaz may have avoided using Twitter altogether and instead has opted to evoke his message loud and clear through accessories. “Happy,” “hot,” “cool,” and also “help” were transcribed onto necklaces, brooches, and belts, and these fashion statements added a whimsical feel to the overall dark and mysterious mood of the show.

The collection opened with a black, multi-tiered and asymmetrical dress that was raw at the edges and accessorized with the words “happy” and “help” (these accessories reminded me of the “Carrie” necklace worn by a Ms. Bradshaw but on steroids.) The first look forecasted what would become a swarm of looks that flirted with the fun of fashion. Appliquédflowers blossomed on A-Line dresses and trousers, and beetles and butterflies attacked a bustier or a blouse. The presence of the creepy crawlers added a youthful feel to the collection, and Mr. Elbaz heightened the youthful theme with flat oxfords and edgy tomboy silhouettes.

Photo: Marcus Tondo / GoRunway / Style.com

Keeping with the dark mood of the show, the collection did not really emphasize color with the exception of a dark-fuchsia, floral print dress. If there was color, it was dark and earthy, or muted down to feel almost neutral in the swarm of black and grey that dominated the runway. Grey is proving to be once again the color of the season showing up on many Fall/Winter collections, and Lanvin has offered it in every variation from herringbone to fur. However, black was the dominant hue and emphasized in an array of LBDs (Little Black Dresses) flowing down the runway. Alber produced them in various lengths from the pleated to slit, A-line to column and necklines with various degrees of plunge representing women of various ages and personalities.

Photo: Marcus Tondo / GoRunway / Style.com

Overall, Lanvin’s Fall/Winter 2013-14 collection was a quieter show that made its statement through accessories. The clothing, raw and organic like the flowers and insects that decorated them, will definitely make their mark way into fashion editorials and onto street style blogs. So, as the editors tweet their Instagram photos from the front row i.e., @LANVINofficial #bugs #parisfashionweek, I will stop here to RT those messages. “K bye!”

“These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do” was the vibe at the Pucci Fall 2013 runway show. The boots in question, a skin-tight, thigh-high made of the softest suede were Peter Dundas’ reiteration of the modern go go; I am pretty positive that these will be pounding the pavement come autumn. Boots aside, the super-sexy-chic collection had nothing new to say, because Pucci did what it does best — a 1960’s sexual time warp.

As soon as the first model stepped out and walked in those boots oozing sex appeal, the attitude for the show was in full gear. The collection was a celebration of the 1960’s and opened with a model wearing the aforementioned thigh-highs and an outfit of mixed prints — Pucci print skirt, zebra print belt, and a psychedelic print blouse articulated by sequins. Welcome to The Sixties! Hair and makeup mimicked that of Brigitte Bardot, the epitome of a sex symbol: long, straight hair with signature bangs and a flawless face made all the models crazy/beautiful. I am sure that most men would want their girlfriends to resemble a Pucci girl. No man-repellers here.

Photo: Monica Feudi / GoRunway / Style.com

The collection continued its ode to the decade with more hippie glamour that included psychedelic tunics and fringe on bags, coats, and dresses. Jackie O who was catapulted into the limelight in the early 60’s seemed to have also influenced one of the looks in Dundas’ collection — a blue, double-breasted trench that would have gone well with her pillbox hats and Chanel suits. Baby Pink, a color immortalized by the former Mrs. Kennedy, also popped up on several looks adding bold color to the collection. My personal favorite was a fur coat dyed in that Baby Pink shade. One last important trend of The Sixties that made its way onto the runway was mod, and Lindsey Wixson did her best Twiggy pout impression in a turtleneck, hot pants, and a beret.

Photo: Monica Feudi / GoRunway / Style.com

Silhouettes such as hippie and mod and icons like Bardot and Jackie O have established the 60’s as one of the most fashion forward decades of the past century. It was a time of conflict and progression, and it is symbolized in the individual trends born from the decade. Peter Dundas captured the best of what The Sixties had to offer in a young and sexy Fall 2013 collection for Pucci. Everyone from Hollywood Starlets to Russian princesses will be adorned in these clothes. And although bell-bottoms were absent from this collection, I do not think anybody cared, because all of the garments were hemmed above the knees. This show was all about legs, legs, and legs and maybe the boots that were made “to walk all over you.”